Apple Cider Hot Toddy with Tea

This Apple Cider Hot Toddy is a twist on the traditional hot toddy that will warm you up during the chilly fall and winter months. Made with honey, apple cider, bourbon, black tea, and spices, this recipe has much more flavor than the original.

Who doesn’t love a cozy, hot drink this time of year? Right now, it’s all about hot tea, coffee, and cocoa.

An Apple Cider Hot Toddy is perfect for when you need a bourbon cocktail that is extra cozy instead of ice-cold cocktails like my Bourbon Mule or Smoked Rosemary Old Fashioned.

If you’re looking for another batch cocktail option, you can also try my Cranberry Mistletoe Vodka Martinis or White Christmas Margaritas – both recipes include instructions for serving a crowd.

What is a Hot Toddy?

A hot toddy is a centuries old, classic cocktail made from whiskey, hot water, and honey. The word “toddy” is derived from the Hindi word “taddy,” a distilled palm sap beverage. 

By the 1700s, the British appropriated it from Indian culture. Spices became more available due to the colonization of India. Pubs in the U.K. began adding hot water and spices to their whisky to combat the cold, damp weather. 

​There are also claims that the hot toddy was created by Robert Bentley Todd, an Irish physician. He ordered patients to drink his recipe made with hot brandy, cinnamon, sugar, and water.

As with many cocktail origin stories, no one truly knows the exact story of the hot toddy’s origins. 

Ingredients

• Black tea – You can use your favorite black tea. I think the best tea to use is Harney and Sons’ Black Cask Bourbon Tea. The tea itself does not contain alcohol but it has deep, bold flavors similar to bourbon. 

• Honey and apple cider – These add the perfect amount of sweetness to the hot toddy and provide a lot of extra flavor. 

• Whiskey – Use whatever style of whiskey you prefer, just make it a high-quality whiskey. I prefer to use bourbon, which is an American whiskey. 

• Whole spices – I prefer to use whole spices instead of ground cinnamon or anise. Ground spices are too overpowering and do not mix well for a warm cocktail. I used cinnamon sticks and whole star anise pods. 

Substitutions and Variations

• Add some citrus. A lemon slice or a dash of fresh orange juice can brighten the drink, balancing the sweet and spicy notes.

• Substitute the whiskey with things like apple brandy, cognac, dark rum, or añejo tequila. I swapped bourbon for tequila in my Añejo Tequila Old Fashioned and it turned out lovely.

• Instead of honey, you can also use maple syrup or agave nectar. 

• If you don’t have apple cider available, apple juice will suffice. 

• Add different flavors and spices, such as whole cloves or a few nobs of fresh ginger.

• Make an alcohol-free mocktail, so that everyone can enjoy one! Simply, omit the whiskey. To add some bourbon flavor without alcohol, try the Harney and Sons’ Bourbon Cask Tea that I mentioned above. 

Best Whiskey for Hot Toddies

You should always choose YOUR favorite whiskey. It’s your cocktail, so if you like it, that’s really all that matters.

There isn’t necessarily a “best” whiskey for a hot toddy; it’s really about what kind of flavor profile you prefer.

Types of whiskey and their flavor profiles:

• Bourbon has a nutty flavor that is slightly sweet with smooth notes of caramel and oak. This is my whiskey of choice, personally.

• Rye has a bit more spice with a peppery and bold flavor and notes of herbs.

• Irish whiskey tends to be mellow with flavors of toasted grain and cereal. 

• Scotch whisky has a smoky, peaty flavor along with fruity and floral notes. 

*Note: Flavor profiles can vary widely depending a number of conditions. If you really don’t know much about what you’re buying, make sure to ask questions at the store.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Add a tea bag to a pot with hot water and brew tea to package directions. Pour the tea into your favorite mug.

Step 2: Sweeten the to taste with honey. Add bourbon to the mug.

Step 3: Add a cinnamon stick and/or star anise pods to the mug. Top off with hot apple cider that has been warmed in the microwave or on the stovetop.

Making a Big Batch

It’s quite simple to make a big batch of this Apple Cider Hot Toddy recipe. You’ll want to multiply the ingredient amounts by the desired number of servings. I’ve included measurements for making a batch of 8 in the recipe card notes below. 

To make a big batch:

• Mix all of the ingredients together in a heatproof pitcher or hot water urn and stir well.

• Add the honey ahead of time or have your guests add their own so that they can tailor it to their own tastes.

• Provide extra whole spices that can be added to each cup for garnish.

Make Ahead Tips and Leftovers

To make ahead: 

• Mix everything together in a large pitcher except for the spices and keep in the fridge for up to 1 day in advance. 
• A little while before you are ready to serve, add the mixture to a pot on the stovetop or to a slow cooker/crockpot to warm. 
• Add in the whole spices. Heat until warmed throughout, taking care not to bring to a boil. 
• Once warmed, go ahead and serve. 
• If you need to keep it warm, you can do so by transferring it to a hot water urn or keeping it in the slow cooker set to the warm function. 

​If you have any leftovers, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Be sure to remove the whole spices before storing as this can cause an off flavor if it seeps in the cider too long. 

Using Hot Toddies as a Home Remedy 

Hot toddies are a controversial home remedy. There’s no clinical evidence that hot toddies will help ailments, but many find them quite soothing when feeling under the weather, including myself.

There are risks to combining alcohol with medications and alcohol can cause dehydration, so always check with your physician before partaking in this or any home remedy!